"Snowflake" the giant polar bear roams the Burke lobby during the opening of the Last Polar Bear exhibit.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Calling all UW students
Hey UW students! Come to After Hours @ the Burke tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 1) night for a fun "Night in the Arctic" with Snowflake the giant polar bear, free Klondike bars, the UW Polar Science Center and more. Just show your ID between 7-9 pm to get in FREE to this exclusive student event!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Chocolate Fair photos
As a favorite event during the UW's Dawg Daze orientation week, the Chocolate Fair welcomes new students to the Burke Museum every fall. It was a lot of to see 984 UW students come to the museum to dip into our chocolate fountain and learn a little something about the 12 million objects at the Burke.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Bug Blast Looms: Don't miss this Sunday's amazing event!!
Posted by: Rod Crawford, Curator of Arachnology
The first annual "Bug Day" event was organized by members of Scarabs: The Bug Society in 1988. The rationale was, and still is, to bring together kids interested in bugs from around the Puget Sound area and show them they are not alone. In their everyday lives, peers who think that bugs are “yucky” may surround these kids. Another main purpose is to show everyone that bugs are cool and people who like them aren't weird.
This year's event is the 10th since the bug days became "Bug Blast” at the Burke in 1999. Returning by popular demand is bug chef David George Gordon, author of The Eat-A-Bug Cookbook, who was with us back at Bug Blast No. 1. While I find crickets and grasshoppers especially tasty, David can make even a tarantula taste good—and insects are good for you too, often with 60% protein. Try one, you'll like it; cooking demonstrations on the Burke's front lawn are at 11 am, 12:30 pm, and 2 pm.
But that's far from all! There will be vast displays of private and public collections, including specimens never shown before; live ant and honey bee colonies, stream bugs, giant zoo insects from three zoos, tarantulas, carnivorous plants and more. Activities will include compost bug digging, microscope viewing, looking at the world through compound eye glasses, and making a craft called "Bugs of the Future." Dr. Glenn Kohler, the new state forest entomologist, is new to Bug Blast; he'll demonstrate the work of wood-boring beetles, "using baked potatoes as a surrogate for wood." And much more!
Please join us for Bug Blast, Sunday September 28, at the Burke Museum, 10 am to 4 pm. You'll be glad you did!
The first annual "Bug Day" event was organized by members of Scarabs: The Bug Society in 1988. The rationale was, and still is, to bring together kids interested in bugs from around the Puget Sound area and show them they are not alone. In their everyday lives, peers who think that bugs are “yucky” may surround these kids. Another main purpose is to show everyone that bugs are cool and people who like them aren't weird.
This year's event is the 10th since the bug days became "Bug Blast” at the Burke in 1999. Returning by popular demand is bug chef David George Gordon, author of The Eat-A-Bug Cookbook, who was with us back at Bug Blast No. 1. While I find crickets and grasshoppers especially tasty, David can make even a tarantula taste good—and insects are good for you too, often with 60% protein. Try one, you'll like it; cooking demonstrations on the Burke's front lawn are at 11 am, 12:30 pm, and 2 pm.
But that's far from all! There will be vast displays of private and public collections, including specimens never shown before; live ant and honey bee colonies, stream bugs, giant zoo insects from three zoos, tarantulas, carnivorous plants and more. Activities will include compost bug digging, microscope viewing, looking at the world through compound eye glasses, and making a craft called "Bugs of the Future." Dr. Glenn Kohler, the new state forest entomologist, is new to Bug Blast; he'll demonstrate the work of wood-boring beetles, "using baked potatoes as a surrogate for wood." And much more!
Please join us for Bug Blast, Sunday September 28, at the Burke Museum, 10 am to 4 pm. You'll be glad you did!
Bug Chef photo by Frank Ross
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Get your calendars out...
…because it’s going to be a busy few months of public events at the Burke Museum! I’m not kidding, we’ve got something going on at least every other week for the next three months. You can check out the full calendar here, but let me share with you a few events that I’m looking forward to the most:
Sunday, October 26: Mysteries of Ancient Egypt
If you or your kids or friends or nieces or nephews have a thing for ancient Egypt, then you will definitely want to come discover the Mysteries of Ancient Egypt at the Burke Museum this October. Burke archaeology experts will be on hand to talk the talk about this enigmatic culture and there will be plenty of activities to keep kids of all ages engaged. But the coolest thing about this event is that the Burke will be bringing out its very own mummy, who is over 2,000 years old! And its right before Halloween, so if you’re looking for costume inspiration, our mummy just might be your muse!
Wednesday, November 12: Book Signing and Lecture with Paul Bannick, “The Owl and the Woodpecker”
Besides the fact that Paul Bannick is easily one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, it’s worth coming to hear him speak about his new book “The Owl and the Woodpecker” because he has fabulous stories and a wealth of knowledge about the many varied species of owls and woodpeckers in North America. I guarantee you will learn something fascinating from Paul that you didn’t even realize you wanted to know. Pick up your tickets after October 1 at the Burke.
Thursday, December 4: Book Signing and Lecture with Steven Kazlowski, “The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World”
If you loved the Burke exhibit The Last Polar Bear you won’t want to miss the opportunity to hear first-hand from photographer Steven Kazlowski about what it’s like to get alarmingly close to a 1,700 carnivore. Steven spent this last summer back in the Arctic and is an eye-witness to the changing climate and quickly-melting ice up north. In a last Seattle hurrah before The Last Polar Bear closes at the Burke to travel the country, Steven will speak and sign books at Seattle Town Hall on December 4. Call 206-543-9681 for tickets after October 1.
And that’s just my short list of exciting events…stay tuned for more about family days, lectures, and more this fall at the Burke Museum!
Sunday, October 26: Mysteries of Ancient EgyptIf you or your kids or friends or nieces or nephews have a thing for ancient Egypt, then you will definitely want to come discover the Mysteries of Ancient Egypt at the Burke Museum this October. Burke archaeology experts will be on hand to talk the talk about this enigmatic culture and there will be plenty of activities to keep kids of all ages engaged. But the coolest thing about this event is that the Burke will be bringing out its very own mummy, who is over 2,000 years old! And its right before Halloween, so if you’re looking for costume inspiration, our mummy just might be your muse!
Wednesday, November 12: Book Signing and Lecture with Paul Bannick, “The Owl and the Woodpecker”Besides the fact that Paul Bannick is easily one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, it’s worth coming to hear him speak about his new book “The Owl and the Woodpecker” because he has fabulous stories and a wealth of knowledge about the many varied species of owls and woodpeckers in North America. I guarantee you will learn something fascinating from Paul that you didn’t even realize you wanted to know. Pick up your tickets after October 1 at the Burke.
Thursday, December 4: Book Signing and Lecture with Steven Kazlowski, “The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World”
If you loved the Burke exhibit The Last Polar Bear you won’t want to miss the opportunity to hear first-hand from photographer Steven Kazlowski about what it’s like to get alarmingly close to a 1,700 carnivore. Steven spent this last summer back in the Arctic and is an eye-witness to the changing climate and quickly-melting ice up north. In a last Seattle hurrah before The Last Polar Bear closes at the Burke to travel the country, Steven will speak and sign books at Seattle Town Hall on December 4. Call 206-543-9681 for tickets after October 1.
And that’s just my short list of exciting events…stay tuned for more about family days, lectures, and more this fall at the Burke Museum!
Photo courtesy Seattle Times.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Bird experts at the Burke this weekend!
Posted by: Nicole Robert
This weekend is a busy one here at the Burke! Saturday Sept. 13 marks the first day that Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration will be open to the public. If you haven’t read the previous posts featuring birds in the exhibit, take a look now. These are just some of the amazing images that allow you to get a close-up perspective on the life of birds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
On Sunday, Sept. 14, come celebrate this new exhibit and experience both the sounds and sights of these birds during a day of special public programs. We are especially excited that local wildlife photographer, Paul Bannick, whose photographs can be seen in Arctic Wings, will be leading 30 minute tours of the exhibit at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. Paul is a charismatic speaker with lots of great stories about his personal experiences as a photographer (listen to his interview on KUOW). You won’t want to miss his tours!
Migratory birds are a great model for understanding how we are all connected through environmental habitats. The lecture offered at 2:15 pm by Marilyn Heiman, director of the Boreal Songbird Initiative, is a unique opportunity to learn more about these connections between the Americas and the Boreal Forest in the Arctic, as well as current threats to this significant bird habitat.
We hope you will join us here at the Burke to celebrate Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration, and to learn more about the birds that pass through our backyards on their way to and from the north coast of Alaska. See you this weekend!
Photos: Snowy Owl Chicks, photograph by Paul Bannick, author, The Owl and the Woodpecker. On view in Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration, Sept. 13 – Dec. 31, 2008, Burke Museum, Seattle
Harlequin Duck, photograph by Hugh Rose. On view in Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration, Sept. 13 – Dec. 31, 2008, Burke Museum, Seattle.
On Sunday, Sept. 14, come celebrate this new exhibit and experience both the sounds and sights of these birds during a day of special public programs. We are especially excited that local wildlife photographer, Paul Bannick, whose photographs can be seen in Arctic Wings, will be leading 30 minute tours of the exhibit at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. Paul is a charismatic speaker with lots of great stories about his personal experiences as a photographer (listen to his interview on KUOW). You won’t want to miss his tours!Migratory birds are a great model for understanding how we are all connected through environmental habitats. The lecture offered at 2:15 pm by Marilyn Heiman, director of the Boreal Songbird Initiative, is a unique opportunity to learn more about these connections between the Americas and the Boreal Forest in the Arctic, as well as current threats to this significant bird habitat.We hope you will join us here at the Burke to celebrate Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration, and to learn more about the birds that pass through our backyards on their way to and from the north coast of Alaska. See you this weekend!
Photos: Snowy Owl Chicks, photograph by Paul Bannick, author, The Owl and the Woodpecker. On view in Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration, Sept. 13 – Dec. 31, 2008, Burke Museum, Seattle
Harlequin Duck, photograph by Hugh Rose. On view in Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration, Sept. 13 – Dec. 31, 2008, Burke Museum, Seattle.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Spreading the Natural History Museum Love
Posted by: Julia Swan
The Burke Museum is currently the only major natural history museum in a 200-mile radius (the next closest being the Museum of Natural and Cultural History at the University of Oregon in Eugene), but that may soon change! A group known as The Oregon Natural History Coalition is working to establish a natural history museum in downtown Portland, Oregon. According to their vision statement, the ONHC wants to provide “everyone who visits the Natural History Museum [of Portland] with an opportunity to muse over what used to be, before we as humans began applying our influences.”
I wish the ONHC the best of luck as they move forward with their plans to bring another natural history museum to the Northwest. If you’re in the Portland area, find out more about this great project and learn how you can show your support!
The Burke Museum is currently the only major natural history museum in a 200-mile radius (the next closest being the Museum of Natural and Cultural History at the University of Oregon in Eugene), but that may soon change! A group known as The Oregon Natural History Coalition is working to establish a natural history museum in downtown Portland, Oregon. According to their vision statement, the ONHC wants to provide “everyone who visits the Natural History Museum [of Portland] with an opportunity to muse over what used to be, before we as humans began applying our influences.”
I wish the ONHC the best of luck as they move forward with their plans to bring another natural history museum to the Northwest. If you’re in the Portland area, find out more about this great project and learn how you can show your support!
Friday, September 05, 2008
Bird of the Week: Snow Goose
The Burke Blog continues its exploration of Arctic birds with a look at the Snow Goose. If you ever spot a large flock of birds in the winter, there’s a chance you’re watching Snow Geese. Known to fly in groups of up to 55,000, Snow Geese travel from the Arctic tundra to the Gulf Coast and back every year. In fact, Snow Geese spend part of the spring making a pit stop right here in Washington State, and their visit to the Skagit Valley around February or March is not to be missed.
Early in the twentieth century, the population of Snow Geese reached a shocking low of 2-3,000 birds, but today between 6 and 7 million Snow Geese populate the planet, making the Snow Goose one of the most abundant species of waterfowl.
I feel like Hugh Rose’s photo (below) in Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration is a rather iconic view of Snow Geese—all those soaring birds really speak to the wonder of migration! See this photo in person and more by visiting the Burke Museum next weekend (Sun., September 14) for a special public program to celebrate the new exhibit.
Snow Geese, photograph by Hugh Rose. On view in Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration, Sept. 13 – Dec. 31, 2008, Burke Museum, Seattle.
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